Can't Stop Fate (Ronacks MC #4)

by Debra Kayn

  Dukie grabbed his mom's hand. "But, mom —"

  "Don't but mom me." She stepped back and swept her arm out to the side. "Get your shoes on and grab your pack. I'll walk you downstairs to meet Allison when you're finished. Remember, she'll pick you up and stay with you when you get home this afternoon because the bar is open."

  "Okay," mumbled Dukie, sliding on his sock covered feet into the apartment

  Her heart rate normalized, and she sighed, warmed all over knowing Mel also watched out for her son. Dukie was safe.

  "Rough morning?" asked Mel.

  She leaned against the door and shook her head. "No, it's just me being me."

  "Anything I can do?"

  "Hug me." She stepped toward him and leaned against his chest.

  When Mel moved into the apartment across from hers above the bar a few years ago, he'd become her hero. She wrapped her arms around his solid waist. From supporting her emotionally to becoming the main man in Dukie's life, Mel became invaluable to her.

  She raised her head and gazed into his deep, brown eyes. "I love you."

  Mel grunted. She raised up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "Have you eaten?"

  "Yeah." He smoothed back her hair. "I called in and took the day off. JayJay is going to work my morning shift today at Watson's Repo and Towing."

  "Are you feeling okay?" She stepped out of his embrace.

  "Thought I'd hang around and help you with your family." His gaze intensified. "Find out how much money this Keith guy needs to move on. I'll make a delivery to them at the campground. Not much I can do about keeping your family here if they decide to leave."

  "I know," she said. "I went to sleep trying to figure out how to handle the situation and trying to get Keith away from them seemed the best option. I'll have to put Mom, Grandma June, and Carl in the motel until I can find them a rental. Though I have a feeling, they'll leave with Keith and go to Washington."

  Dukie walked between her and Mel. She shut the door and held up a finger for Mel to wait to talk about her family after she delivered her son downstairs to the babysitter. She wanted Dukie to have as much of a normal upbringing as she could. Ronacks Motorcycle Club provided a network of people who loved and cared for them as much as her family, and most days were less stressful.

  Allison waited outside the back door by her car. Raelyn waved through the glass and undid both locks.

  Once the door was open, Dukie hurried past her. Raelyn handed her son's backpack to Allison and reached into her pocket. "I know it's a day early, but here's your paycheck. I didn't want you to have to wait to get it deposited. I know you're trying to pay for your college books.

  "You didn't need to do that, but I appreciate it. One more payment and I can get the books in time for school to start again." Allison swung the backpack over her shoulder.

  "It's no problem." Raelyn smiled. "It helps so much that you also take Dukie to camp, too."

  "He loves his time there." Allison walked backward. "Don't worry about him."

  "I won't." Raelyn waved to Dukie and received a boyish grin in return before her son scrambled into the backseat of the car, totally forgetting about her. "Remember to buckle up."

  She waited until they rode out of sight and relocked the door. Mel waited for her, and she turned to him. "Sorry about Dukie running over to your apartment this morning. I'll make sure and talk to him during my break at dinner time."

  "I've told you before, Dukie's welcome to come over anytime." Mel followed her into the office at the back of the building.

  "Well, he's five, and he needs to listen to his mom and follow the rules," she said.

  She glanced at Mel once she sat behind the desk, putting space between her and the biker. Lately, she'd become aware of depending on him too much. The feelings he evoked in her were too appealing and reminded her of how it was to be married. Even the frustration of never knowing when he'd show up. If he'd be late coming home. He even knew exactly how to push her buttons.

  At six foot two inches tall, a solid two hundred pounds, Mel had practically grown up with her during her twenties. He was three years younger than her, and during her marriage, she'd viewed him as an irresponsible man who partied hard, wasted his money, and used his status within the club to get his fill of women. But, during the time she'd grieved for Duke, had her son on her own, Mel had stepped forward and looked out for her. Though some days it felt like they'd gone in too different of directions to remain friends.

  She became needier. He became more responsible.

  Mel sat down on the couch in her office and stretched his legs. She bit her lip taking in his muscled thighs. He'd come back from his run with the club heavily whiskered and even more appealing. If it were only the fact that she was sex deprived and she found Mel sexy, she would've dealt with the problem months ago. Maybe even years ago.

  At thirty-one years old, her brain told her she was still young enough to go out and find a good guy to fall in love with, who would be a good father for Dukie and settle down to enjoy a good life as a small family. Her heart told her that she had the best family already and not to wish for more or risk everything she had in her life. The Ronacks Motorcycle Club provided her with everything she needed. If she married outside the club, she'd lose the security they provided.

  She shook the hair out of her face. Except, sex. God, she missed sex.

  Mel continued to stare at her and cocked his brow. Guilty over her thoughts, she opened the top drawer on the left side of her desk and removed a bag with two thousand dollars in cash inside. She always kept a safety net at the bar from her savings in case Dukie needed to go to the doctor or ended up splitting his chin open and needing stitches, again.

  She squeezed the bag and looked at Mel. "I don't even know how much rent goes for."

  "Depends on the area." Mel hooked his hands behind his head. "Where does your family usually live?"

  "Apparently in a motorhome." She set the bag on the desk and ran her finger over the zipper. "Two weeks ago when I visited them, they were living in Missoula, but anywhere between Haugan and Missoula would do."

  "Why haven't I ever met them before?" Mel's low voice rolled over her.

  She wrinkled her nose. "Because if they knew how Ronacks took care of Dukie and me, they'd be here all the time mooching off the goodness of the club. My mom falls in love more often than she dyes her hair. A habit she's had ever since my dad left when I was ten years old. I had hoped when Grandma moved in with my mom, she'd settle down. Unfortunately, Grandma June lives vicariously through my mom and enjoys the unpredictability that comes with strange men entering their lives."

  "How old is your brother?" asked Mel.

  "Eighteen." She rubbed her arm. "He dropped out of school when he was sixteen and got his GED. He works odd jobs when it suits him, but has never had any kind of responsibility living at home and believes free rent is his God-given right. I'd call him entitled, but he's a low achiever and doesn't require much."

  Mel lowered his arms and studied her. Embarrassed over the way her family behaved and the lack of stability in their lives, she looked down at the bag of money she was going to hand over without any fight.

  "I'm being unfair," she whispered. "I love them."

  "You have a right to your feelings."

  She raised her gaze. "All my life I've wondered if I was adopted. Of course, I'm not. I just don't understand how I was raised in a home where paying the rent or the water bill came last, and running toward whatever fun moment you can dream up became a priority. Since I was ten years old, I kept track of the money for mom and made sure she paid her bills. Of course, when I moved in with Duke, everything having to do with my family went back to total disarray."

  "How many times have you bailed them out in the last five years?" asked Mel.

  "Five or six times." She snorted. "I usually can make things right before they're kicked out of the house they rented. But, there's no way I can sweet talk the landlord into taking them back when they'
ve missed five months of rent. There's no use going to the landlord this time. It'll be cheaper to help them find another rental."

  "I'll take care of the situation." Mel stood and approached the desk, planting his hands on the surface and leaning toward her. "You've got enough going on with the bar and Dukie. Your family needs to learn you've done enough for them, and I don't think they'll try and give me a hard time the way they would if you showed up at the campground."

  She sagged forward, knowing she should handle her mom and grandma on her own but grateful to have Mel take the stress out of her life. "Thank you."

  "Not a problem." He straightened and walked to the door.

  She watched his tight ass until it sunk in what she was doing, and lowered her gaze with a jolt. He'd forgotten the bag of money. "Mel, hang on."

  Rounding the desk, she held out the cash. "You forgot this."

  He glanced down and shook his head. "That's not needed."

  "Yes, it is." She pushed the bag into his stomach.

  Mel never budged, only leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Take the time to do what you do to keep the bar running, and I'll lock the door behind me."

  He walked away leaving her standing in the doorway of her office holding her nest egg. She sighed and watched his cute, hard ass disappear into the bar. One thing she had in common with Mel was his need to take responsibility, and that included taking care of her.

  She groaned shaking her head. When Mel comes back, she'd settle up with him. She took care of her responsibilities, no going back. Family or not, she needed to help those she loved. There was no changing what she believed.

  Chapter Three

  Sharon, paced in front of the door of the motorhome while Grandma June sat in a folding chair with her cane planted between her feet. Mel stood beside his motorcycle not budging an inch. After listening to the two females argue with Keith about moving, he had to put up with Keith's two cents.

  "I'm telling you, dude. I'm not leaving." Keith puffed on one of those electronic e-cigs. "I think there are opportunities here in Haugan for me."

  "If you call me dude one more time, you'll be picking yourself off the ground." Mel removed his riding gloves. "The way I see it you have two options. I'll give money to Sharon for you all to hit the road, and you can put a roof over the women you're taking responsibility for, or leave them here, and you can have five hundred bucks to take off on your own."

  "I need them, dude," said Keith.

  "Fuck," muttered Mel, walking forward.

  He popped Keith in the face. It barely took any weight behind his fist to topple the man over.

  Keith landed on his ass and covered his nose. "God damnit. You broke my face."

  Raelyn's grandma cackled, stabbing her cane in Mel's direction. Mel stepped out of the way as Sharon rushed to Keith's side. His morning went to hell the moment Raelyn's family waved at him from their campsite.

  Everyone appeared too cozy for the news coming their way.

  "Now, I'd like to get this business over with and get back to the bar." Mel pulled out his wallet. "What's it going to be?"

  He counted on Keith taking up his offer. Only carrying five hundred in cash, he'd need to run to the clubhouse, delaying their leaving if he'd guessed wrong. Going off the little Raelyn gave him on her family dynamics, he'd assumed her problem with having her relatives in town came down to the fact that her mom was once again putting a man first in her life.

  With Keith out of the way, he got rid of the trouble that came with the family and Raelyn could put her mind at ease knowing that her mom, grandma, and brother would be okay.

  "Keith, let's just go and take him up on his offer," said Sharon. "We can go back to Missoula and find a rental."

  Keith ripped his T-shirt off and held the cloth to his bleeding nose. Mel tapped his wallet against his hand. His patience gone.

  Keith pushed to his feet, holding his nose, and walked over to Mel. "I'll take the five hundred."

  "Wise choice." Mel took the cash out of his wallet and handed it over. "Give the women a few minutes to grab their belongings. You've got fifteen minutes before you'll end up paying for another day and it'll come out of your money."

  Keith stumbled and picked up his e-cig off the ground. "Clean out the motorhome, Sharon."

  "But...you can't leave me." Sharon hurried over to Keith. "You love me."

  Keith mopped up his face.

  "You promised we'd make a lot of money." Sharon pushed Keith's hands away from his nose. "What about always being together?"

  "Another deal came around that was better for me. Pack up." Keith lifted the cloth and stuck his e-cig in his mouth. "I'm pulling out of here whether you have your things or not because I'm not paying for another night here."

  "I can't believe you." Sharon pushed Keith, knocking him back two feet. "I wish I never met you. I sold my car for you. I gave you money. Where am I supposed to go?"

  Mel sat on his motorcycle. Listening to the exchange, he'd believe two teenagers were squabbling. He looked around the almost empty campground.

  "Where's Carl?" Mel asked.

  Grandma June pushed herself out of the chair with a groan. "He left before anyone got up this morning. He's probably hiking."

  He'd be surprised if the kid could jog once around a football field without keeling over and puking his guts out. "Does he have a phone on him?"

  "A fancy one." Grandma June opened the door of the motorhome. "I'll grab his stuff. He doesn't have much. None of us do."

  As the two women went inside, Keith counted the money Mel had given him. Mel took out his cell phone and texted Rod. He was the Ronacks member closest to the campground who had access to a truck that could come and pick up everyone's belongings.

  Fifteen minutes on the dot, Keith drove away without anyone waving him goodbye. Mel continued sitting on his motorcycle. Between three people, there were three suitcases and at least six black garbage bags filled with their belongings.

  "I hope you're happy." Sharon crossed her arms. "We have no way to leave and nowhere to go."

  Mel put on his riding gloves. "You'll have a place to stay. Once you get on your feet again, you can go wherever you want."

  Grandma June laughed, obviously tickled. "I do believe Raelyn's man has more going on upstairs than the young punk that just drove off."

  "That's not fair." Sharon sniffed. "I could've fallen in love with him."

  "Could've? A few minutes ago, you declared you loved him." Grandma June shook her head. "I never raised you to be a dumbass, but here you are standing in front of me talking stupid."

  Mel looked away and blew out his breath. He'd give Grandma June a point. She seemed to have a good grasp of what was going on.

  A honk came from behind Mel. He looked over his shoulder and raised his hand. Rod had come with the truck to pick the women.

  "Someone needs to call Carl," said Mel, getting off his motorcycle and picking up two of the bags.

  "He's going to be mad." Sharon pulled out her phone and walked behind the fire pit, turning her back to everyone.

  Rod backed in the camping spot and shut off the engine. Mel carried all the bags and put them in the bed. When he finished, he stopped beside Rod and lowered his voice. "They'll need a ride to the bar."

  "Taking in stray puppies now?" Rod studied the group. "Are you sure you know what you're doing?"

  Mel chuckled. "I have no clue. This is Raelyn's family. She deserves to know her mom and grandma have a place to stay. I couldn't see them taking off with some freeloading yuppie."

  Rod whistled. "Balls, brother."

  "More like fucked up," he said.

  "Where's the yuppie?"

  "Paid him to take off," said Mel.

  "Will he be back to cause trouble?"

  Mel glanced behind him at the sound of footsteps cracking twigs and found Carl walking up the dirt road. "No. The guy was harmless."

  Maybe he should've bought a tent and given Raelyn's family a couple days stay at
the campground to figure out what they wanted to do, but he was under the impression the women had no money. He couldn't send them on their way with their thumbs out. If something happened, Raelyn would never forgive herself for not doing more.

  Rod held up his phone. "I've got a delivery in thirty minutes."

  "We'll have you back on the road." Mel tapped the driver's door and turned around, knowing Rod was on O'Leary Tire time during a work day. "Everyone inside the truck. Carl, you can ride in the bed."

  Sharon wrapped her arm around Grandma June's elbow and helped her navigate the uneven ground. "Where are you taking us?"

  "To the bar?" Sharon raised her gaze and smiled, her sadness no longer evident over losing her boyfriend.

  "Yeah. For now." He walked around the truck and opened the door.

  Carl walked past his grandma, slipping a baggy into Grandma June's hand. Mel had caught the kid's gaze before he jumped into the back of the pickup. Grandma June tucked the baggy into her deep cleavage. Mel looked at Rod, who rubbed his chin to hide his amusement. He'd need to do something about Grandma June's habit. The last thing Raelyn needed to deal with was a drug bust popping up because the weekly health inspectors got a whiff of bud off an old lady.

  "This worked out perfectly." Grandma June handed Mel her cane and climbed up into the cab of the truck. "Carl? You're going to spend more time with you sister. Maybe she can get you in a better mood."

  Carl sank down between the bags loaded in the back of the truck and stared off into the distance. Mel set the cane inside the truck and shut the door. Having wasted enough time, he went to his Harley and led the way back to town and to the bar.

  Already, he'd done more for Raelyn's family than he had for his own. He hadn't seen his mom since he was sixteen years old. She sent him a Christmas card every year instead of making a phone call, and he hadn't heard from the only cousin he knew in the last six years. He had a life with Ronacks now and was okay with how things turned out.

  As he unlocked the back door of Pine Bar & Grill, led everyone inside, and found Raelyn pouring over the books in the office, the expression on Raelyn's face reminded him that he never called her and updated her on the situation.